juju_mommy:My ex's parents used to have these cool collapsable water holders... They were like a milky looking clear plastic of some sort and were pretty darn big. But they were flexible so when they aren't full, you can fold them up and keep them wherever.
I had one of these! I used to use it camping in Boundary Waters, it would hold about 5 gallons. The water was so nice, we would fill it up in the middle of the last lake and haul it in to use that night. It was giant and sturdy and we could haul it around, bang it on the rocks, it was fine. I will have to see if I still have it, otherwise, I am thinking I probably bought it at REI or an outfitter. That is an excellent idea. I also have some kind of iodine tabs or something to make water safe to drink, that seems like a good item to update. It would be a good idea to keep one in the car, I'm thinking. The container, I mean!
Water is the one item I would hate to be without. While our local water supply for our town is mostly groundwater, in summer it draws some from the MIssissippi. One of the concerns I have would be a chemical spill upriver, that would contaminate the water supply. There are lots of lakes around, but in the metro area the water is not so clean, there is lots of recreational boat use. I was living in Des Moines during the floods, when the water supply flooded. The National Guard was there quickly with water, but over a week without water from the tap was an experience. I worked for a human service agency, we worked without water or electric to be avalialbe for our clients. Working, and then standing in line to get water, and sometimes sandbagging, made me aware of how much water we use without thinking about it. The electricity was less of a concern, more quickly acclimated to in the summer, although we lost food from the freezer/fridge. I felt bad for the grocery stores, who lost so much food. We all thought things would return to normal more quickly than they did. During Katrina, as someone watching, it seemed to take forever for recovery.
What is the severity of hurricane season predicted to be this year?
